Vandals Place Four On All-Big West Team Star Receiver Antonio Wilson Lone Offensive Pick For Idaho

Senior wide receiver Antonio Wilson heads the list of four University of Idaho football players earning first-team all-Big West Conference recognition.

Joining Wilson as first-team selections are defensive tackle Tim Wilson, linebacker James Durrough, and cornerback Arnold Gunn. Earning recognition on the second team are tight end Jeff Pankratz, offensive tackle Crosby Tajan, linebacker Ryan Skinner, free safety Bryson Gardner, and punter Mike O’Neal. Return specialist Jeffrey Townsley was an honorable mention choice.

Wilson, a 6-3 senior from Los Angeles, finished his senior season at Idaho with 77 receptions for 910 yards, which includes 10 touchdown receptions. Wilson’s reception total is the sixth best single-season for a Vandal. His 65 last year tie him for 12th. This fall, he was second in the Big West and tied for sixth nationally in receptions per game (7.0) and was fourth in the Big West in receiving yards per game (82.7).

His career numbers (142 receptions, 2,113 yards, 17 TDs) are the best for a player who played only two seasons at Idaho and rank fourth all-time for receptions, fifth all-time for yards and are tied for third all-time for touchdown receptions. This fall, Wilson also added punt returns (18 for 188 yards). He also had one kickoff return for 40 yards to give him 1,138 all-purpose yards as a senior.

Tim Wilson, a 6-1, 270-pound senior from Seattle, finishes his career at Idaho by setting a single-season record for tackles-for-loss and wound up fourth on the all-time sack lists and third on the all-time tackles-for-loss list. His 29.5 tackles for loss (18 tackles of backs and 11.5 quarterback sacks) in 1997 pushed him ahead of former Vandal standout Ryan Phillips, now with the New York Giants and previous owner of the record of 28.5 set in 1994. He finished second in the Big West in sacks.

Wilson’s 11.5 sacks this fall combined with his 14 from his previous three seasons give him 25.5 for his career, while his 29.5 tackles-for-loss (-123 yards) in 1997 give him 58.5 for his career. He also had 111 tackles (62 solo and 49 assists).

Durrough, a 6-0, 233-pound sophomore linebacker from Barstow, Calif., who also spent time at defensive end, made a big impression in his first season as a starter. His 28 tackles for loss put him in a tie for third with Jeff Robinson, a three-time all-Big Sky award winner who earned his place on the single-season list with his 1991 28 tackles-for-loss. Durrough reached his 28 with 10 quarterback sacks and 18 other tackles (-135 yards) behind the line of scrimmage. He was third in sacks and third in tackles-for-loss in the Big West.

Gunn, a 5-10, 172-pound senior from Portland was the mainstay of the Vandals secondary and earned recognition on the first team after finishing the 1997 season with 39 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions. He completed his four years at Idaho with 115 tackles, 18 pass breakups and five interceptions.

Pankratz, a 6-4, 240-pound senior from Boise, who missed one year while battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma, had 20 receptions for 277 yards in 1997. He finishes his career at Idaho with 24 receptions for 318 yards.

Skinner, a 6-0, 228-pound junior from Lewiston, Idaho, is on course to being one of the most prolific tacklers in Idaho history after recording 132 (sixth single-season best) this past season. He has 156 for his career in addition to five pass breakups, six quarterback sacks, three fumble recoveries and one pass interception.

Gardner, a 6-0, 200-pound sophomore from Barstow, Calif., is joining Skinner in an assault on Idaho tackle records. His 80 this fall combined with 67 last year give him 147 with two seasons to play. In 1997, he also intercepted four passes and had one fumble recovery to give him career totals of six interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

O’Neal, a 6-0, 185-pound junior from San Diego, averaged 42.4 yards on 59 punts. He had a long of 58 yards. He was third in the Big West in punting average.

Tajan is a 6-5, 285-pound senior from Sandpoint. Tajan, who initially walked on, earned a starting role in 1996.

Townsley is a 6-2, 187 freshman from Miami. He had 25 kickoff returns for 581 yards - both third on Idaho’s single-season list. He was second in the Big West in average per return (23.2).

WSU update

Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf, who injured his right thumb in the first quarter against Washington on Saturday, believes he would have been removed from the game if Cougar Mike Price had seen it.

Leaf said he kept his right hand concealed in a muff behind his back whenever he was close to Price.

X-rays Monday revealed no fractures, Leaf said by telephone from his home at Great Falls, Mont., where he is spending Thanksgiving with his family.

“It’s just a sprain,” Leaf said. “I’ve got it in a protective splint. It feels better already.”

He believes the injury occurred at the end of his follow-through, when the thumb became entangled in another player’s face mask.

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